We hope that you would join us Friday, May 1st (holy cow, it’s May already!), at 244 Berding Street in Ferndale for another evening of community, friendship, challenging Biblical teaching and discussion, prayer for one another, and an amazing cup of coffee. Dinner/coffee time begins at 6:00.

For our teaching/discussion time, we will be tuning into the Trial: 8 Witnesses from 1&2 Peter series from Mars Hill Church in Seattle. This week we’ll be looking at 1 Peter 4:1-11. In this video sermon, entitled “Suffering to Serve,” Pastor Mark Driscoll preaches on how it’s much easier to recognize the idols of other cultures than our own, We easily recognize that we shouldn’t give our time, treasure, and talent to a wooden statue- but we fail to see that we may worship sex, money, power, independence, or comfort. We hope to discuss our tendencies to make an idol out of pretty much anything and how looking to Jesus is our only rescue from the bondage to the good things that God has made for us to enjoy- not worship. Would you consider joining us?

Books

Unceasing Worship– Harold Best- Widely respected as one of the foremost thinkers and practitioners in his field, Best explores the full scope of worship as continuous outpouring in all settings and contexts. With careful exposition and eloquent analysis, Best casts a holistic vision for worship that transcends narrow discussions of musical style or congregational preference.

Audio/Video

Continuous Worship: Is “Worship” the Only Word for Worship?- audio/video

Continuous Worship: Jesus the Sole Mediator of Worship and the Helplessness of Music- audio/video

At Friday Night last night we spent some time in discussion after watching the Worship: God Transforms sermon. The main topic was about idolatry, the fact that our hearts are “idol factories,” and are, like the hymn Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing says, “prone to wander…prone to leave the God [we] love.” The two passages of Scripture that we read to contrast worship and idolatry were Jeremiah 2:12-13 and John 4:13-14.

While I won’t rehash what idolatry is, I will point you to some helpful resources that help identify and tear down the idols that we so easily create and tolerate. I would encourage you to spend time using these resources in concert with the Scriptures and prayer and may God help us bind our hearts to Him in faithful and joyful obedience.

The Idol Factory– Pastor CJ Mahaney- A 3 part sermon series that aims to define, discern, and destroy the false gods in our lives. Sovereign Grace Ministries has also provided an extremely helpful outline of these mesages, with lots of relevant Scripture passages, quotes and application question. CJ also preached a message entitled Discern Your Heart that is a summary of all three messages.

Dealing With Personal Idols– Pastor Darrin Patrick- A gentle but very convicting sermon that helps evaluate the desires in our lives, general or specific, that can take the place of Jesus as the Lord of our hearts and desires.

Idolatry- Pastor Mark Driscoll- The first message from the Continuous Worship conference, held in 2007. Video/Audio

Quest for More– Paul David Tripp- This book (that I am currently reading) isn’t entirely about idolatry, but Tripp is excellent at identifying idols of the heart and how to biblically deal with those idols. There is also a companion study guide for the book and a video where Tripp talks about the book. Highly recommended!

Author Harold Best defines worship as: “Worship is the continuous outpouring of all that I am, all that I do and all that I can ever become in light of a chosen or choosing god.”

The biblical word for worship is also sometimes translated “sacrifice.” This insight is helpful because what we make the greatest sacrifices for reveals what we truly live to glorify and worship. For example, if we eat and drink in excess, we are worshipping our stomach and sacrificing our health. If we sacrifice relationships with God and people for a hobby (e.g., sport, music, craft), then we are worshipping that hobby. If we are giving our bodies to sexual sin, we are worshipping sex and/or another person whose glory is our highest aim, sacrificing holiness and intimacy with God in the process. In short, we give our time, energy, body, money, focus, devotion, and passion to that which we glorify most and make sacrifices to worship that person or thing. Because we were made for the express purpose of worshipping God, everyone is a worshipper. The only difference is who/what we worship. (from Vintage Jesus, Chapter 9)